125-200cc My second 165 kitted bike and it's the frankenbike...

Cut with razor knife, then electrical tape back together

Husky has a nice little plug they use oem.

Kelly drug me out after almost a month of no riding yesterday for what turned out to be a really fun 32 mile ride in the slop. I felt better on the bike than I had in a year, everything just flowed. It was a really great day.

I tested out the franken bike a couple of times and it is not short on power at all. It is electric motor smooth. A really competent vet class race bike for sure. That said it is not for me, but no surprise there as the I preferred the 125 over the 144 already. The 165 is even more everywhere, more I don't need. I am addicted to that power sag then huge rush of the 125. It just makes me grin. I rarely get off a bike and want more power, I have been known to hop on my wifes kx100 and rip around a bit.

Kelly's sweet duct tape job, he was dry at the end of the ride.




Kelly crossing a broken down bridge, the water underneath is about two and a half feet deep. He went for it and almost made it, I was a wimp and walked my bike with Kelly's help.



And that is pretty much it for photos, I was a slacker and the rain makes it tough to pull the camera out.

Later,

Kelly -- With Walt's 165 and the new Carb -- what do you think this bike would be like for the technical Idaho stuff [not Idaho City]. I am curious how you think it would do in the technical mountain stuff like the GPNF or up here around Stanley or Baumgartner if you know those areas. It seems like when I ride these areas I hardly EVER hit the top end on my 250. Occasionally on a climb maybe, but the stuff we ride most its just to hard to handle 40-45 horespower. So I ride on the pilot alot [where the bike is making much less power] and rely on the torque.

Just curious what you think. Thanks for doing all of this -- it makes things really interesting.

Thanks Kelly -- There is a 2010 125 here for $3500... got me thinking a little....

Where did u get parts like the front fender, number plate, grafics kit. just that type of stuff.

Pimp mine out when your done! Especially the shock!

Cool man! I'll always remember riding your last 04 cr125 that day at Jones Creek.
That was the day I realized 125's were not slow!


I rode DM on Sat with the 144 and that was the straw that broke the camels back. The 165 is going on. Ordered a .8mm gasket and head o-rings from Bill's yesterday and will install ASAP so I can dial it in before the hangover scrambles.

Where are you setting the PV arm at? Close to the top like the 125/144?
And how about ring gap? I searched, but didn't find anything 165 specific.

Just a FYI I goldvalved my 00 CR250. Really liked the forks after shifting several recommendations stiffer. A little soft on bottoming but Plush! The shock was another story. The kit was listed as the same as an Ohlins application or something and had a 3-stage stack. It was awefull. I messed with it and got nowhere. In desperation and with the LorettaLynn's amnational right around the corner, I gave up and sent my shock to Drew Smith at WER. He demanded the stock piston assy back! He re-installed it with his valving. Though primarily an offroad guy, Drew delivered a setup, first try, that was WAY better than stock and WAY WAY better than the goldvalve, he really saved my hide, pride, and maybe my LIFE!!! It may have changed or work better for you but I had to share.

You have the 7 transfer port cylinder with the older big power valves. Adjust the arm so there is ~.040" of deflection in the upper spring keeping the valves closed. Probably about 1/3 of the way up the slot. No need to adjust further and if you do you will compromise top end with the bigger power valves(the bottom doesn't clear the exhaust port completely). You don't want the ring gap smaller than .009". I would replace the ring if you have more than ~.018" and any of the edges are sharp.

Thanks Walt!
top notch answer.

Kelly how do you feel that chassis handles in comparison to the new one?? In my memory, which admittedly is easily clouded by nostalgia and fond memories, those chassis were phenominal. I'd like to compare it to the new one, with the same fork on both.

HEY! HEY! Don't be dissing on Hodaka here young man!